As the country faces the possibility of leaving the European Union in March 2019 without a deal in place, Tatton MP Esther McVey has urged former cabinet colleagues to update Parliament weekly on their contingency preparations.
Ms McVey said it was the most crucial issue of a generation, and Parliament and the public needed to know what was happening.
No longer in cabinet, after resigning her position as work and pensions secretary in November, Ms McVey called for a statement on preparations for leaving without a deal and on World Trade Organisation terms this coming week.
Speaking in Commons Business Questions, Ms McVey said: “Perhaps the leader of the house will arrange for such a statement to be made every week until we leave.”
She added: “No-deal preparedness is vital for the UK. So far, the Government have been shy in setting out what they have been doing.”
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom praised Ms McVey for her work in cabinet, and responded: “I sit on the sub-committee that is looking at day one readiness in all circumstances, and I can assure her that the government’s preparations for no deal are well advanced and that the government will come forward with further information as soon as it is necessary to do so.
“However to be very clear, the government do not intend to have no deal with the European Union. We intend to have a withdrawal agreement that this house can support.”
Ms McVey also raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Theresa May in the Commons.
She said: “After tomorrow’s [Tuesday 18th December] cabinet meeting where no deal preparations will be high on the agenda, will the prime minister please arrange for a minister to come to this house and give a statement this week and then every week until we leave the EU so that we know what is happening and the country can be reassured, business and individuals, it is vital that is happening and this house needs to know what is happening.”
Theresa May replied: “She [Esther McVey] is raising the important point about information being available to this house and members of this house on the planning that is taking place.
“Of course there are a number of ways that is expressed to the house, the secretary of state for exiting the European Union [Stephen Barclay] appears before the select committee and responds to issues on that.
Mrs May added: “These are matters which have been addressed in debates in this house but I understand the other points she is making wanting to ensure that members of this house are aware of the arrangements that are being put in place.”
Ms McVey highlighted that she believes the two key issues the public needs assurances on are the ‘backstop’ and the proposed ‘divorce bill’ of £39 billion.
She asserted her view that both need addressing before a withdrawal can be agreed.
The Tatton MP said: “The government has always said that if they cannot come to an agreement with the EU then they would be leaving the EU without one. The PM has always said that no deal is better than a bad deal.
For it to be a good deal the backstop needs to go and the £39 billion must be for a future trade agreement.
“At present that £39 billion is being paid merely to leave the EU and talk about an agreement – who’d pay £39 billion to talk about an agreement? £39 billion must be for the future trade agreement.”
Ms McVey continued: “The EU have agreed an ‘implementation period’ (otherwise known as a transition period) for ‘a deal’ situation, then an ‘implementation period’ needs to be agreed for a ‘no deal’ situation too.
“The ‘implementation period’ is paid for in line with EU membership at circa £10 billion a year, this would provide certainly for business and citizens.
“The EU say they don’t want a ‘no deal’, we don’t want no deal, but we must be prepared for such an eventuality and for a managed and orderly separation.”
Ms McVey concluded her position by saying: “What we both want is to be good neighbours, good allies and friends.
“Let’s get that free trade agreement agreed, one we would both benefit from, remembering the UK has an annual £90 billion trade deficit with the EU, so the EU has much to lose without this agreement. This needs to be the way forward for the new year.”
